Students across the Parramatta area are learning in new classrooms months sooner as the Minns Labor Government's promised upgrades to Dundas and Northmead public schools are completed nearly nine months ahead of schedule.
Both schools have had to rely on ageing demountables to meet local enrolment demand, with close to 100 students at each school learning from temporary facilities - some of which have been in place for almost two decades.
The upgrades will deliver new, permanent classrooms and increase each school's enrolment capacity, with Dundas Public School growing from 208 to more than 360 students, and Northmead Public School from 506 to almost 650 students.
This investment comes as Parramatta's population continues to surge, with the community projected to grow by 60 per cent over the next 20 years. These upgrades will ensure both schools have the capacity needed to meet increasing demand from local families.
At Dundas Public School, the number of permanent classrooms has nearly doubled, with a new building with six permanent classrooms, two multipurpose spaces, two common areas, additional student toilets, and a covered walkway.
The Northmead Public School upgrade has added four new permanent classrooms, two special program rooms, alongside refurbished administration and staff areas, with remaining refurbishment works to be completed by mid-year.
Demountables will be removed within weeks, returning up to 700 square metres of valuable play space at each school - giving students back almost a quarter of Dundas Public School and close to 15 per cent of Northmead Public School.
Both schools are seeing strong academic outcomes, with recent NAPLAN results showing significant improvement and more students performing above average across key domains, reflecting the impact of explicit teaching and targeted teaching support.
These improvements have been the result of a consistent focus on improving student outcomes by the Minns Labor Government. Modern, state-of-the-art facilities will further support strong outcomes, providing students the learning environments they need to reach their full potential.
The Minns Labor Government is delivering a pipeline of upgrades across the Parramatta region, including major upgrades for Ermington West, Rydalmere and Rydalmere East public schools with new and refurbished classrooms and facilities to be completed in 2028. The local community are invited to information sessions at the end of this month to view the designs.
The school upgrades are among 16 major public education infrastructure projects the NSW Government is delivering across the greater Parramatta region, replacing more than 200 ageing demountables with more than 300 permanent new classrooms. Once complete, the works will provide permanent classroom capacity for almost 7,000 students.
The Minns Labor Government is also building three new public preschools in the Parramatta region, offering 280 places per week for the area's youngest learners. The public preschools will be co-located with Melrose Park Public School, Ermington West Public School, and Oatlands Public School.
This is all part of a record $9 billion investment in new and upgraded public schools across NSW, including $3.9 billion for new and upgraded schools in western Sydney.
It stands in stark contrast to the former Liberal National government, which failed families across the state by neglecting to build and upgrade schools, delivering no new public preschools, overseeing declining student outcomes and failing to keep up with population growth.
There's more to do but the Minns Labor Government will continue to rebuild public education after more than a decade of neglect under the Liberals and Nationals.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:
"We know that explicit teaching improves student outcomes, and these new classrooms will give both students and teachers the learning environments they need to keep achieving academic success.
"For too long, families in Western Sydney were let down by the Liberals who responded to growth by stacking demountables in school playgrounds.
"Our investment in these upgraded schools is part of our long-term plan to rebuild public education, but we know there is more to do, and the Minns Labor Government is getting on with the job of delivering world-class school facilities like these across the state."
Member for Parramatta Donna Davis said:
"These upgrades are not just an investment in school infrastructure but an investment in the future of students in the Parramatta region.
"Delivering these new facilities early proves just how committed this government is with providing the modern and permanent learning environments our growing community so desperately needs.
"I'm proud that the Minns Labor Government is delivering real improvements for local families, building better schools and bringing more teachers in to give our kids the world-class education they deserve, right where they live."
Dundas Public School Principal Lee Shipley said:
"We're delighted to open these fantastic new facilities and welcome our students and teachers into their new classrooms.
"These upgrades give our teachers greater flexibility and support the collaborative, student-centred learning that happens every day at Dundas Public School.
"This new building is a wonderful addition to our school and marks an exciting milestone for our entire community."
Northmead Public School Principal Elisa Baker said:
"We're thrilled to open these new permanent classrooms and see our students learning from them for the very first time.
"These modern facilities will support a range of learning opportunities and help ensure every student continues to thrive.
"The upgraded administration and staff areas will also help our staff continue to support students and families across our entire school community."
Public preschool, primary and public high school upgrades and new builds being delivered across the greater Parramatta region:
- Carlingford West Public School - upgrade
- Cumberland High School - upgrade
- Darcy Road Public School - upgrade
- Dundas Public School - upgrade
- Ermington West Public School - upgrade and new public preschool
- Girraween Public School - upgrade
- Melrose Park - new high school
- Melrose Park Public School - redevelopment and new public preschool
- Newington Public School - upgrade
- Northmead Public School - upgrade
- Oatlands Public School - new public preschool
- Parramatta East Public School - upgrade
- Rydalmere Public School - upgrade
- Rydalmere East Public School - upgrade
- Telopea Public School - upgrade
- Wentworth Point Public School - upgrade (Stage 2)
- Westmead Public School - upgrade
